Page 38 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“Let me talk to him,” Darlene said.

“No, I…” Dolly stopped herself.

“I won’t stay. I promise. Give me control again. Trust me,” Darlene said.

Dolly stared at her brother, whose eyes shimmered with repressed tears and hurt. She didn’t know his relationship with Darlene, but it was clear that their bond saved her once again. It pulled them through the darkness.

She closed her eyes and gave Darlene control.

“Stop being such a big baby!” Darlene said.

Russell frowned. Darlene walked over to her brother and hugged him. Russell was slow to return the hug, but he then did. He knew her, he could always see her. He hugged her tight.

“You really are a bigger drama queen when you are upset than Dolly,” Darlene chuckled.

“You’re scaring me. Tyrone and—,” Russell said.

“I’m not losing control, and Lucio is not Tyrone,” said Darlene.

“Isn’t he? He has you trapped here. Watches everything, we do. Won’t let us leave.” Russell said.

Darlene pressed a finger to his lips.

“You saved me.” Darlene cupped Russell’s face. “I promised you I wouldn’t hurt people, and I haven’t. Not since the beginning. Okay?”

Russell nodded. “I didn’t know if you would come back. I just had this sinking feeling ever since Dolly went to New Orleans to meet him. A feeling that I needed to bring her with me, just in case.”

Darlene glanced over at the bed. She let go of Russell and went to the bed and picked up the doll. She rubbed her hair. “Sharlene. My best friend. This was supposed to be my sister since Dolly wasn’t.”

Russell nodded in agreement.

“Hey! Do you know that when our real mother carried me in her belly, she wanted to name Dolly, Sharlene? My name was going to be Darlene, and Dolly was going to be Sharlene. Darlene and Sharlene. Did you know that?” Darlene grinned.

“How doyouknow that?” Russell asked.

“Mama used to talk to us when we were inside her. Dolly forgets everything, but not me. I never forget. I remember her. I remember being born. I saw her face. I saw her! I saw new mommy, too. The doctor handed us to new mommy. They were both so happy, smiling, even though there was only one baby. Not two. I think real mommy’s name was Wanda. Maybe Lucio... never mind. It might’ve been Shonda. I remember her, though.”

Darlene kissed the doll. “She gave this to Mama. Told her to give it to me. There was one for Dolly too, but only one baby came out. Just us, together.”

“I don’t understand. Can we just go?” Russell sighed.

“Oh! I know something else!” Darlene perked up. “Why Dolly couldn’t see. Why her eyes were so bad. I should tell her. I forgot.”

Russell winced, trying to be patient as she rambled. When freed, Darlene liked to talk—to prove she was smart, to prove she was real. Despite his pain, he forced a smile and nodded.

“She couldn’t see because they took her powers. The harder she worked to keep me locked away, the weaker she got, physically and mentally. Get it? That’s why she was nearly blind before Lucio let me out. When you hold things in, it’s like cancer—it eats at you. She lost her youth, her beauty, her sight, herfuckingmind, because she needed me. I’m real!” Darlene declared.

Russell’s body tensed, his arm stiffening. Sensing his silence, Darlene turned and saw his suffering. She went to him, soothing his spasming joints. She hummed, just like when he was a baby, using her magic to ease his pain.

Russell relaxed.

Darlene repeated this until she felt the fear in her brother ease.

“Lucio is not our enemy. It is very complicated. First, he was Dolly’s boyfriend and then he was mine, and now he’s Dolly’s boyfriend again. He likes drinking from me the most, though. I can tell. The relationship we share is different. Trust us, Russ. And trust me. We can never go home.”

"You said he drinks from you. What does that mean?" Russell frowned.

"He’s a vampire, silly. Don’t you know that by now? Remember the vampires I told you about? They’re real," Darlene replied.

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